If you didn’t already have enough reasons to love the women of the critically acclaimed French lesbian drama Portrait of a Lady on Fire, they’ve just given us another fantastic reason to support them.
Controversial director Roman Polanski — who was charged with rape in 1977, ultimately pled guilty to unlawful sex with a minor, and subsequently fled the United States so as to avoid any actual consequences — won the award for Best Director at France’s César Awards on Friday. His nomination alone was protested outside of the award ceremony, prompting Polanski to be a no-show at the awards.
But when he won, Portrait of a Lady on Fire stars Adèle Haenel and Noemie Merlant, along with director Céline Sciamma, were among those who took the protest inside, walking out of the auditorium directly following the announcement.
\u201cAd\u00e8le forever.\u201d— Portrait of a Lady on Fire (@Portrait of a Lady on Fire) 1582933968
And if it wasn’t perfectly clear that their abrupt departure was a protest of Polanski and French cinema’s refusal to hold him accountable for his crimes, another video shows Haenel angrily calling out “Brava, pedophilia!” as she and Sciamma make their way through the lobby as they leave.
\u201c\u201cBravo, pedophilia!\u201d Ad\u00e8le Haenel, star of Portrait of a Lady on Fire, and the film\u2019s director C\u00e9line Sciamma walking out after child rapist Roman #Polanski won the best director award at the C\u00e9sars, #France\u2019s equivalent to the Oscars. h/t @alucarda \n\n https://t.co/u4oI2N0c30\u201d— Mona Eltahawy (@Mona Eltahawy) 1582984757
While these women were certainly not the only ones who left the ceremony in protest of Polanski’s win, too many people stayed, showing exactly how easy it is for a convicted sexual predator to continue having not only a public career, but a celebrated one. As such, the bravery of those who made their positions on his inclusion known has been applauded online.
\u201c@haenelswift If I turn out to be 1% of the person she is, I would be glad.\u201d— kelly macdonald\u2019s translator (@kelly macdonald\u2019s translator) 1582932080
\u201c@WeDoNotWantWar1 @chloeroy934 @haenelswift No\u00e9mie did storm out following Ad\u00e8le and as well as the rest of the Portrait crew. \ud83d\udc4f\ud83c\udffc\ud83d\udc4f\ud83c\udffc\ud83d\udc4f\ud83c\udffc\u201d— kelly macdonald\u2019s translator (@kelly macdonald\u2019s translator) 1582932080
\u201c@Portrait_Movie absolute hero, fuck polanski\u201d— Portrait of a Lady on Fire (@Portrait of a Lady on Fire) 1582933968
\u201c@monaeltahawy @AlucardA Love her. The bravery she showed while the others sat clapping for the man who raped a 13 year old\u201d— Mona Eltahawy (@Mona Eltahawy) 1582984757
